15 Irvine condo residents displaced by fire sparked by laser wood engraver
A fire that officials believe was started by a machine that uses a laser to engrave wood charred three condominiums in Irvine, displacing 15 people.
A machine that uses a laser to engrave wood sparked a blaze that charred three condominiums in Irvine late Thursday and left 15 people without homes, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.
The flames started around midnight in a garage in the 20 block of Silverwood, according to fire officials.
A resident apparently ran a business in a garage that involved engravings burned into pieces of wood, said Fire Authority Battalion Chief Steve Edwards.
The machine either malfunctioned or was left unattended and overheated, sparking the flames, Edwards said.
No residents were hurt, but one firefighter was taken to a hospital for treatment of a knee injury he suffered while crews were combing through the scene after dousing the fire.
About 75 firefighters responded to the three-alarm blaze.
By the time it was put out around 1 a.m., the fire had burned three condos and damaged four garages, according to the OCFA.
Smoke damaged three other homes, and two cars were destroyed, fire officials said.
The American Red Cross responded to help the 13 adults and two teenagers displaced by the fire, according to the OCFA.
Crews estimated that the blaze caused $1.5 million in damage.